Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Ugh
No picture to go with yesterday's activities. It was horrible but also my favorite day in Cambodia. We went to S. 21 which was a prison and torture center for the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh. It was a high school before they used it for such gruesome purposes. Extra eerie. I got my photo taken with one of only 7 survivors. Then, we went outside the city to the "killing fields". There were 129 mass graves here Absolutely unbelievable. Also unbelievable that trials are still going on so they leave several mass graves as evidence. I can't write about it all here, but please ask me to tell you about it sometime. Our guide for both places was born in 1977 (like me) and his father was killed by Khmer Rouge for being a former soldier. Our guide and his siblings survived due to the intelligence, cleverness and strength of their mother. He made the experience so much more real for me. And I so appreciate his willingness to share personal stories. The few hours we spent at these two places were haunting, and well yeah, I am so glad we went.
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Tessa--Incredible! I'm sure it made that piece of history all the more real. I'll want to hear about this when you get home.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the sadness Jen and Christian, but well worth seeing and experiencing. You won't forget. We're horrified, but drawn to it at the same time. I felt that way at Dachau. I was about the only one there on a gray rainy day, standing among the ghosts, in front of one of furnaces. I still have a stone I picked up there.
ReplyDeleteWow.. I can't believe you went there.. sounds very scary. I haven't seen anything like that before.. Sorta eerie.
ReplyDeleteTo think I could have been there. Scary and Saddening. SB
ReplyDeleteReal history...like Dachau and so many other places, it should never be forgotten. I wasn't aware of the ongoing trials...wow.
ReplyDeletelove you,
Mom/Dana